A few days ago, I received a LinkedIn connection request from Dr. Bhavik Shah, now a Cardiologist. What made this special was that I remember him from his medical student days — when he attended one of QMed’s workshops as a second-year MBBS student.
It is always heartwarming to see how our early participants have grown and evolved in their careers. And when they share how QMed played a part in their journey, it reaffirms why we do what we do.
Bhavik’s story is one such example — a reflection of how early exposure to structured literature searching can spark a lifelong engagement with research and evidence-based practice.
Here’s what he shared with us:
Thirteen years ago, attending a QMed workshop as a second year MBBS student marked a defining moment in my career, a moment that opened the door to the fascinating world of medical research. QMed, an NGO deeply committed to empowering young medical students, equipped me with invaluable skills, particularly the art and science of medical literature search, which has been a cornerstone of my research journey.
Understanding how to conduct an effective literature search is fundamental to any research endeavor. The QMed workshop was my first real exposure to this essential skill, teaching me not only how to find relevant scientific articles but also how to critically analyze existing evidence to identify research gaps and frame meaningful clinical questions. This early training was pivotal in building my confidence and competence to embark on research projects with a solid foundation in evidence-based medicine.
Inspired by the ability to navigate through vast resources of medical knowledge, I published my first case report in 2014 in the Catheterisation and Cardiovascular Interventions (CCI) journal. The paper, on intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion through the right subclavian artery, was a product of both clinical insight and thorough literature review, a skill sharpened thanks to QMed. This initial success fueled my enthusiasm, leading to 11 more publications across diverse journals over the years.
The ability to perform comprehensive literature searches has not only supported my publications but has also enriched my clinical practice and teaching. It ensures that every decision, every hypothesis, and every recommendation is backed by the strongest available evidence. This habit of continuous, critical engagement with medical literature will always remain at the heart of my professional life. QMed’s role in making medical literature access and evaluation accessible to young researchers cannot be overstated. Such training fosters a culture of inquiry, rigor, and lifelong learning among budding clinicians. I am deeply grateful to QMed for empowering me with this skill early on, and I urge all young medical professionals to embrace the power of medical literature search as a gateway to impactful research and better patient care.
What a wonderful journey — and a proud moment for us at QMed! Stories like these remind us that when students are introduced to the right research skills early in their careers, the impact can last a lifetime
– Vasumathi Sriganesh –